Vending apparatus



R. SMITH El AL VENDING APPARATUS Dec. 30, 1952 Filed Feb. 15. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 30, 1952 R. SMITH ETAL 2,623,801

vsnnmc APPARATUS 1 Filed Feb. 15. 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 3 iii 5 24 INVENTORS. Egg a! 45222274,

MATZV Dec. 30, 1952 R. SMITH EITAL 2,623,801 VENDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. l5. 1949 I s sheets-sheet 4 I/I/\\ I v INVENTORS.

Dec. 30, 1952 R. im'rl-l IETAL 2,623,301

VENDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15. 1949 5 snags-sheet 5 INVENTQRS. Jfaya/ Jnzz, hrxgfl Jfwzen Patented Dec. 30, 1952 VENDING APPARATUS Royal Smith and Harry B. Stoner, Aurora, and Edwin Parre, Batavia, Ill., assignors to Stoner Manufacturing Corporation, Aurora, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 15, 1949, Serial No. 76,506

14 Claims. 1

The invention relates to improvements in vending machines and more particularly to a machine of the kind adapted to vend a selected piece of merchandise upon the insertion into said 'machine of a coin of predetermined denomination.

Merchandise vending machines of the kind with which the present invention is concerned frequently have a plurality of movable racks, each containing a different kind of merchandise, which are selectively placed in position to permit discharge of merchandise contained therein selectively. Such machines, however, locate the actual merchandise to be vended in a position to be viewed through a window. This necessarily involves a structure that is costly to manufacture and service. It is therefore an object of the pres ent invention to provide a vending machine with a plurality of stationary merchandise racks and with novel means to effect selection of merchandise in any one of the racks for vending.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine of the character referred to with novel viewing means operable, during the selection of the merchandise, to display a non-vendable sample or specimen of the merchandise contained in each rack.

Another object is to provide means whereby the mechanism effective to vend a piece of merchandise is operative to prevent vending of more than one piece of merchandise during each cycle of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide means common to all of the merchandise racks effective upon operation of the selector mechanism to indicate when a rack is empty of merchandise and to prevent operation of the machine insofar as that rack is concerned.

Another object is to provide novel coin-controlled means to lock and unlock the mechanism operable to vend merchandise.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for holding samples of merchandise for selective display.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel mechanism to prevent selector manipulation during operation of the vending mechanism, and vice versa.

Another object is to provide means to prevent repeated operation of the vending mechanism actuating means when but a single coin has been deposited.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vending machine embodying all of the features outlined hereinabove and which is not expensive to manufacture but is positive and fool-proof in its operation and easy to manipulate and service.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which by way of illustration show a preferred embodiment and the principle thereof and which is considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art Without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a vending machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the vending machine, taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 to illustrate the selector mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the selector mechanism shown in Fig. 2, the front wall of the machine housing being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the selector indicating drum, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a rear end elevational view of the selector mechanism, showing the vending plunger izni se2ction, taken substantially on line 5--5 of Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the vendmg mechanism, showing the machine housing re moved.

F ig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the mechanism mounted on the inside face of the vending machme end Wall shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of one of the merchandise racks as viewed substantially along line 88 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the rear side of the rack shown in Fig. 8, taken substantially along line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational side of the merchandise rack, on line Ill-40 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a, sectional view of a merchandise rack taken substantially along line I l-l ll of Fig. 9, showing the gate and connecting link in elevation.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the vending machine, showing the plunger locking mechanism.

Fig. 13 is an end elevational view of the vendview of the opposite taken substantially ing machine showing the housing broken away and taken substantially along line l3l3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary detail view of the rack and merchandise contact finger in the position assumed when the rack is tilted forward for filling.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. l, the vending machine, designated generally at H, includes a housing l2 having a window opening it in its front wall. A plurality of stacks, indicated at M, is arranged within the housing l2. These stacks may be arranged side by side and each is adapted to contain merchandise to be vended. Vending of merchandise from the stacks M is accomplished by inserting a coin of the correct denomination in a coin slot l and then pulling a selected one of a plurality of plungers iii projecting from the front of the machine outwardly. The piece of merchandise vended. is deposited in a trough it where it may be removed by the purchaser. The specific construction and mode of operation of the vending machine insofar as it has been described hereinabove are of a kind particularly shown, described and claimed in Stoner Patent No. 2,324,040, granted July 13, 1943, or in the pending St'oner et a1. application Ser. No. 66,224, filed December 20, 1948, and, inasmuch as it constitutes no part of the resent invention, further detailed description of that structure is not deemed to be necessary.

The vending mechanism embodying the features of the present invention preferably is located along one side of the vending machine mechanism referred to hereinabove. As viewed in Fig. l, the novel vending machine mechanism is located at the left hand side of the housing l2. This mechanism is particularly adapted to permit manual selection and vending of any one of a, plurality of different kinds of merchandise upon the deposit of a coin of a predetermined value'in the coin'slot i5 and manipulation of a single operating plunger. It includes a window opening 21 provided in the front wallof the housing l2 and a selector 22, located below said window and projecting from the front side of the housing. A manually actua'ble plunger 23, which is like plunger It, also is associated with said vending mechanism and is operable when the coin-controlled mechanism of the vending machine is unlocked so as to vend the piece of merchandise selected by the setting of the selector 22. The piece of merchandise vended, like-the pieces of merchandise vended by the other'vending mechanism embodied in the machine, is deposited in the trough 'll so as to be readily removed by the purchaser.

The novel vending mechanism embodying the features of the present invention includes a plurality of racks 24 (Fig. 6) each'of which is substantially rectangular in section and extends upwardly from a chassis including spaced apart walls 25 and 26. The walls 25 and2'6 are substantially rectangular in shape and preferably have their foremost upper corners cut away to provide inclined top'edges 2?. The lower end of each of the racks 24 is pivotally secured, as by hinge pin 23, to and between the 'walls'ili and 26 at uniform distances below the inclined edges 27. The pivotal mounting of the racks 2d affords means whereby said racks may be moved from the substantially vertical position illustrated, in full line, in Fig. '7 into forwardly inclined positions (broken lines) for convenience when r..-

plenishing the merchandise to be contained therein.

Upon referring specifically to the disclosure of one of the racks in Figs. 8 through 11 inclusive, it will be observed that each rack includes a front wall 23, side walls 3i and inwardly turned flanges 232 which constitute the open back wall of the rack. Merchandise to be dispensed 'iscontained within the rack between the confines of the front Wall 29 and inwardly turned flanges 32 in the manner illustrated at 30 in Fig. 7. This merchandise is adapted to be dispensed piece by piece each time the plunger 23 is operated. The particular rack from which merchandise is to be dispensed is selectively determined by the operator upon manipulation and setting of the selector 22.

The manner of selecting the rack from which merchandise is to be dispensed will be described in detail presently. It is sufficient to note at this time, however, that the merchandise is retained in the rack by means of a gate 33, the latter normally being positioned as illustrate-din Figs. '7 and 8. As there shown, each gate comprises an arcuate portion 34 normally underlying and supporting the lowermost piece of merchandise in the rack. The arcuate portion 34 is of a length considerably greater than the width of the rack 24, and it terminates along its rearmost edge in an abrupt shoulder 35 which merges with a shelf-like portion 36. The ends of the shelflike portion 355 are provided with downturned flanges 3? suitably apertured to receive therethrough the hinge pin 23. It should be evident that thegate 33 is free to rock about the hinge pin 28. Novel means is provided to effect such movement whereby when the gate 33 is rocked in a clockwise direction, from the position illustrated in Fig. 8 into the position illustrated in Fig. 11,the lowermost piece of merchandisein the rack drops onto the shelf 35. Return movement of the-gate toward its initial position causes the piece of merchandise resting upon the shelf 35 to be discharged therefrom into a suitable guideway or other means, not illustrated, for conveying said merchandise into the trough 11.

Each rack E l is also provided with means to prevent more than one piece of merchandise'to be dispensed each time its gate 33 is operated. To this end, a substantially U-shaped bracket 33 (Fig. 9) is pivotally mounted on the lower end of each rack 3d. The bracket 38 includes'a pair of downwardly extending fingers 39 and is suitably formed on its upper end with ears :4! apertured to receive therethrough a hinge pin 42 having its ends journalled in lugs 33 preferably struck outwardly from a bridge plate :34 grimly secured, as by welding, to the rack flanges When the gate 33 is in merchandise-supporting position, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the bracket 33 is positioned substantially as shown with its fingers 39 inclined outwardly away from the rack. When the gate 331s moved into merchandise-dispensing position, the bracket 38 is rocked about its hinge pin $2 to carry the fingers 39 inwardly substantially into the position shown in Fig. 11. In this position the fingers 39 lie closely adjacent to the piece of merchandise resting upon the shelf 36 and prevent said piece of merchandise, as well as the next succeeding'piece or pieces, from being vended. As the gate 33 returns to its initial merchandise-supporting position, the fingers 38 move outwardly substantially at the same rate as movement 'of the gate so as to afford an opening between the gate and said fingers to permit the selected piece of merchandise to drop off of the shelf 36. Any tendency of the next succeeding piece of merchandise to follow the path of the dispensed piece of merchandise is prevented by the re-entrance of the arcuate gate portion 34.

The mechanism provided to alford this manner of cooperation between the fingers 39 and gate 33 is best illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. As shown, the bracket 38 has an arm 45 extending laterally on one side thereof provided with a lip 46 bent at right angles thereto. The lip 46 carries a cam pin 4! which travels in a cam slot 49 formed in a cam plate 49 carried on the side wall, 3| of the rack 24. Mounting of the cam plate 49 on the rack 24 is best accomplished by means of a pin 5|, firmly secured to the rack side wall 3|, which is engaged at all times in a cam slot 52 in said cam plate. The cam plate 49 has a downwardly extending arm 53 pivotally secured at 54 to an ear 55 formed integral with one end flange 31 of the gate 33.

The cam plate construction described hereinabove is such that when the gate 33 is rocked through one cycle of operation, the cam plate 49 likewise is reciprocated through an operating cycle to cause the cam slot 48, acting through the pin 41, to rock the bracket 38.

Means is provided in each rack 24 to prevent operation of the vending mechanism when the rack is empty. To this end, a bracket, including a pair of rigidly joined fingers 6|, having apertured end walls 60, is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 23. These fingers normally are adapted to rest against the lowermost pieces of merchandise in the rack. A toggle spring 62, having one end connected to a projecting car 64 depending from one of the end walls 60 and its other end secured to a pin projecting inwardly from the wall 25, tends to urge the fingers Bl into the position referred to. An arm 63 depends from the other end wall 69 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. One of the fingers 6| is provided with an outwardly extending flange 65 having its top edge 66 cut on an are having the pin 28 as its center. The arcuate edge 66 normally underlies a roller 61 carried on a lug 68 projecting laterally from one edge of a reciprocal plate 69 mounted for vertical sliding movement on one side wall 3| of the rack 24.

As best illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the plate 69 has a slot through which a fixed guide pin 12 projects. A washer l3, firmly secured on said guide pin 12, holds the plate 69 firmly against the outside face of the side wall 3|. A spring I4, connected at one end to the pin 72 and at its other end to an eyelet l5 struck out of the plate 69 adjacent its upper end, normally tends to urge the plate 69 in a downwardly direction. Downward movement of the plate 69 in response to the urging of the spring 12 is, however, prevented by the coaction of the roller 91 and arouate edge 96 previously referred to.

When the rack 24 is empty of merchandise, the fingers 6| rock inwardly into the rack under tension of spring 62. When this occurs, the arouate edge 96 is carried inwardly out from beneath the roller 61, thereby allowing the plate 99 to move downwardly under the tension of its spring 14. The distance the plate 69 is permitted to move in a downwardly direction is determined by the length of a vertical guide slot 16 adjacent the lower end thereof through which the pivot pin 28 extends. Such repositioning of the plate 69, when the rack is empty, operates to adjust mechanism, to be described presently, which is effective to prevent actuation of the operating plunger 23 through the cycle of operation necessary to accept a coin and vend merchandise.

As noted hereinabove, the vending machine illustrated is provided with means to enable the customer to select any one of four different kinds of merchandise contained in the racks 24. Accordingly, the selector 22, projecting on the front face of the housing I2, is adapted to be manipulated to actuate means for positioning a specimen of the merchandise contained in either one of said racks within the view of the operator and to condition the machine to vend merchandise of the kind selected. As best shown in Figs. 2, 3,-

4 and 5, the selector 22 includes a knob ll firmly mounted upon a shaft 18 which extends through the front wall of the vending machine housing and has a sleeve 19 rotatably mounted thereon. The sleeve 79 is substantially co-extensive with the shaft 13 and is provided on its end disposed toward the housing front wall with a pinion 8|. Its other end is journalled for free rotation in a bracket 82 and has a disk 83 secured firmly to it projecting end. Upon referring to Fig. 5, it will be observed that the bracket 82 includes a substantially horizontally disposed wall portion 84 suitably flanged on its side edges, :as at 85 and 86, to provide means for securing said bracket firmly between the spaced apart walls 25 and 26.

A slip connection is provided between the shaft 79 and sleeve I9. As shown, this connection preferably includes the disk 83 and a pair of strap members 81, both of which are firmly secured to the end of the shaft 78. The strap members 8'! are apertured adjacent their ends to receive balls 88 which are adapted to selectively cooperate diametrically opposed pairs of shallow recesses 89 provided in the underlying face of the disk 83. The balls are resiliently held in engagement with the recesses by means of a leaf spring 9| which overlies the plates Bl. Under normal conditions of operation, the sleeve 79 rotates in unison with shaft it. However, under certain conditions of misuse, efforts may be made to rotate the sleeve 19 and it disk 83 while related mechanisms are jammed or otherwise held against manipulation. Under such conditions of misuse any abortive attempt to rotate the sleeve 19 by rotation of the selector knob 11 will cause the balls 88 to disengage from the engaged recesses 89 and successively pass over any recesses subsequently encountered.

The pinion 8| on the forward end of the sleeve 19 is in constant mesh with a horizontal sprocket 99 journalled, at 92, on the top face of the bracket wall 84. This sprocket is constantly meshed with a sprocket wheel 93 mounted on one end of a ssedlection indicating drum, generally indicated at The drum 94 is mounted for free rotation upon a horizontal shaft 95 which is journalled, at its ends, in the walls 25 and 26 above the bracket 82. It preferably consists of a pair of substantially cup-shaped end members 96 and 91 held in spaced apart relationship by circumferentially spaced rods 98. In the present disclosure there are four such rods and each is anchored at its ends by being riveted to the end walls of the cuplike end members 96 and 91 respectively. The sprocket wheel 93 may be secured firmly to the selector drum by being riveted thereto in the manner illustrated.

EEachZrOd EB is provided with :a pair o'flong-itud ina'lly spaced circumferential channe'ls99,-and endless springs 160 are laid in said channels to provide a pair of continuous resilient bands I circumscribing the selector drum. These resilient bands afford the means whereby specimens of the merchandise-contained in the racks '25 maybe mounted for display. As shown in'Fig. 2 several such pieces of merchandise, generally indicated by-ithe letter M, are illustrated. "Such pieces of nierchandiseiimay be mounted readily 'by simply i-nsertingone end thereof beneath the circumferential flange: on thecup-like end member lit and pressing the same inwardly radially between adjacent rods 93 to locate its opposite end inposition. .to engage beneath the circumferential flange on the"other'cup-shaped end inember fii. L'eaii'springs 'I'Ell firmly-secure'd on the linsi'de'face of the cup-like end member 96 co-act with the relate'd en'ds of the pieces of merchandise to urge them againstthe'inside face of the end member 91 and thereby prevent longitudinal displacement thereof.

'The. mechanism described hereinabove is such that .uponrotaticn ofthe knob ll, the sprocket 99 is .rotated to impart rotation through the sprocket wheeltii to the selector drum 3%. The ratio between the pinion 3i and the sprockets eii and "@3215 such that a one-half revolution o-f 'the knob 'I'l-Will'rotate the drum Bil one-fourthof a revolution. In this manner the various pieces of merchandise carried by the drum as may be successively positioned so as .to be viewe'd'through theiviewing window '2! in the vending machine housing 12.

.The'selector mechanism provided with means to assist the operator in determining when the selector knob H has been rotated a distance cient to properly position a piece of merchandise fOI'VlBWilIg and to prevent inadvertent operation of the machine in theabsence of proper selection. As best illustrated in Fig. 5, the top wall '86 of the bracket. 62 has a downwardly extending rear fiangeidZ through whichthe sleeve 79 -'extends. Thezportion of the flange m2 extending below the journal for the sleeve 19 has a pat/1 I93 pivotally mounted thereon, as at Hi l. A spring its urges the pawl. m3 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. A roller I 85 carried by said pawl, is disposed in vertical alignment with thesleeve disk 33 so as to ride upon the circumferential edgeioisaid diskduring-operation of the'se'lector mechanism. The disk il's base. pair of diametrically opposed'notches iiil, each of which is of a size sulficient to enable the roller its to :enter therein'wheneither one of :said notches is in alignment therewith. As a result of this co action between the roller Hill and notches i ii'l, rotationiof the knob Ti is momentarily interrupted eachtime :the roller enters oneof the notches. Whensuch engagement occurs the selector drum 9A is in one of its four positions of adjustment.

garter.the operatorfhas selected the merchandise to be purchased and hasdeposited a coin ofthe correct denomination in'the coin slot iii, the plungerilii is grasped and pulled outwardly. Movement of this plunger outwardly'iseffective to actuate the means for releasinga piececf merchandise corresponding to the Kind selected, from one of the racks 2 5 containing the'sarne. Gut- Ward movement o'f'theplunger 2'3 will be pr vented in the event the operator has 'fa'iledto properly position the selector. Locking of the plunger 23 against outward movement is accomplished by means of the pawl m3 which, as best shownlin Fig. 5,:has-a downward-extending iree end portionas at I lih-which terminatesnormally above the-top plane of an upwardly ofiset strap Hi9 constituting a part of the plunger assembly. Inasmuch as the plungerassembly is forthemost part-fully disclosed in prior-art, no specific-recitation of its detailed construction isthoughtto-be necessary.

it might beobser-ved, however, that th plunger assemblv including the plunger 23, has a rearwardly extendinganglebar H t carrying thestrap lilii. When the depending end it of-the pawl lot is in its lowermost position; as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the shoulder H I of the oilset strap lth? abuts saidpawl end and prevents withdrawalof the plunger 23. However, when theselector'mechanism' is properly positioned,- the depending lever-end 198 is located above said s'hoiileler'and affords no interference of any kind to withdrawal of the p'lunger'23. Thepa'wl 163 also preventsmanipulation of the selectormechanisinwhile the plunger is being moved outwardly. This results from the-advanceof the elevated portionof the strap-Hi9 beneath the'depen'ding lever portion its. Such associationof the parts prevents the necessary downward movement of the pawl to permit disengagement of the "roller thereon-from the engaged notch N37.

The selection, for vending, of merchandise contained in any oneof the -racks; 2i,upon"ma nipulation of the selector '22, isaccomplished during manipulation-of said -;selector. As-ar suit of this coordination between the "selector and the vending mechanism, 'to be .described presently, a selected one of theraclrs 1'24 is conditioned to'vend a piece -01" 1nerchandise corresponding to the specimen oftheyrnerchandise viewed through the viewing window "2?. Upon referring to Figs. 3 and 7 it will be observed that the horizontal sprocket also meshes with a sprocket l 52 suitably j ournalled for. rotation on a horizontal stud H3. The stud H3 is firmly secured to the wall Edand it has, mounted for free rotation thereon, apluralityof can elements lid. In the-present machine four merchandise racks areprovided. Consequently, there are four cam elements lid each of Whichis diSPQsed ninety degrees from the adjacent cam element. These cam elements are firmly .securedtqand are rotatable in unison with thesprocket H2. As a result, manipulation .oftheseiectorlknobl-li to rotate the selector drurnfid lihewiserotates the-cam elements lie-in runisonto dispose -one or the other'of saidicam elements. insuc'h position as'to shift a related onegof aiplurality or horizontally slidable selector bars I i5.

Each of the bars l is is provided, adiacentopposed ends thereof, with horizontal slots H6 to receive therethrough guide pins I llfirmly anchored upon and projecting inwardly from the side wall 25. Each selector bar H5 alsoisprovided on its upper edge with one ear Nth Upon referring to Fig. 7 it will be observedthatflthe ears M8 on the set of bars H'Sare ofiset longitudinally relative to. each other. disclosure, the 'ear H8 on'the ,bar llficlosest to the side Wall 26 islocated adjacent theiforw-ard end thereof. I selector bars H5 are selectively spaced:rear-- wardly from the aforementioned ear and-"from each otherand in conformity With the order of assembly. Thus, the ear H8 on thebarlifi shown in theforeground of the illustration in gig. 7 is located adjacent to the rear end ofsaid ar.

. In the present The cars .on' the remaining three The mechanism to be described hereinafter is duplicated in connection with each of the racks 24. Consequently, the description, insofar as it relates to such mechanism, will be concerned with the structural relationship and function of but one of said mechanisms, it being understood that such description will apply equally to all of said mechanisms and that like numerals will identify corresponding parts.

The ear H8 on the selector bar H carries a horizontally disposed pin H9 which extends freely through a vertical slot I20 in a substantially vertically disposed connecting link IZI. The link I2I is located on the inside face of the wall 26 and its upper end is pivotally secured as by means of a rivet I22 to an ear I23 provided on and depending from one end flange 3'! of the gate 33. Any reciprocal movement of the link I2] vertically will impart rocking motion to the gate 33. This link therefore constitutes the sole means for rocking said gate from merchandisesupporting position into merchandising-vending position and for returning said gate to its initial position after vending has been effected.

Vertical reciprocation of the link I2I is obtained upon operation of the plunger 23. When the merchandise in a particular rack is not selected to be vended the lowermost end of its link, which depends below the selector bar II5, is free of any connection with any mechanism associated with the plunger 23. However, when the merchandise in a particular rack is selected to be vended, said lower end of the related link I2I is shifted horizontally into position to be operatively engaged by means to be described presently and which is actuated by the plunger 23. Such selective positioning of the link I2I for inoperation or operation is attained through horizontal shifting of the selector bars H5 during adjustment of the selector 22. In Fig. 7, the third link IZI, counting from the left-hand side of the disclosure, is shifted into position for vertical reciprocation upon plunger operation. The remaining links are in non-engaging or neutral positions. This means that the merchandise contained in the third rack has been selected for purchase by the operator.

Horizontal shifting rearwardly of the lower end of the link I2! carries a notch I25 into embracing engagement with a roller I26 carried on one arm of an L-shaped bell-crank lever I21. The lever I2! is pivotally secured at I 26 to the wall 26 and its other arm is pivotally connected at I29 to a horizontal link I3! common to all of said bell-crank levers. The link I3I is provided with a pair of inwardly extending studs IZila which are engaged in vertical slots I32 (Fig. 2) provided in a plate I33 depending from the angle bar I I0 of the plunger assembly. It should be evident at this time that when the plunger 23 is pulled outwardly, the link I3I is shifted horizontally to thereby rock the bell-crank levers I21 in a clockwise direction. Such movement of the bell-crank levers carries the rollers I26 on their free ends upwardly so as to move the link I2I connected with one of said rollers upwardly to actuate the vending gate 33. Inadvertent shifting of the remaining links upwardly is prevented by reason of an outwardly turned lip I 34 on their lower ends which project through horizontal slots I35 in the wall 26. The slots I35 terminate at one end in arcuate slots I36 which permit shifting of the links upwardly when the lips I34 are in register therewith.

In the event the rack selected for the vending 10 of merchandise is empty, means previously referred to is actuated to prevent operation of the vending mechanism in the manner described hereinabove and to afford visual means for informing the prospective purchaser that said tending pin I31 which projects through a sub-. stantially triangular-shaped curved slot, I38 in the end plate 26. The projecting end of each pin I3! is engaged at all times in a notch I40 pro vided in the upper end of one of a set of draw bars MI. The draw bars I4I are mounted in a substantially vertical position upon the outside. face of the plate 26 and each is secured thereto as by means of a rivet I42 which extends through a slot I43 therein. The lower end of each draw bar likewise is provided with a slot I44 through which one of the pins II9 on the ears H8 (Fig. '7) extends.

As described hereinabove, when a rack 24 contains merchandise the reciprocal plate 69 there on is held in an elevated position by means .of.

the arcuate edge 66 associated therewith. When held in this position the associated draw bar .I4I i is held elevated, as shown on the first, second, and fourth racks as viewed in Fig. 6, for a purpose to be described presently. However, when a rack 24 is empty of merchandise and the recip rocal plate 69 is dropped into its lowermost position (third rack from right in Fig. 6) the draw bar I4I associated therewith is likewise shifted into a lowered position.

When a draw bar MI is in its lowered posi tion, a stop pin I45 projecting outwardly therefrom above its lower end will encounter the lower curved free end I46 of a trigger I47 when said bar is shifted to the left (Fig. 6) during manipulation of the selector. There are four such trig gers I41 and each is pivotally secured to the wall 26 as by a stud I40 located midway between. its ends. The upper end of each ly secured as at strap I50.

triggers I41 I49 to a horizontally disposed The strap I50 is supported by the and its rearmost or left hand end (Fig. 6) carries a pin I5I which extends throughan enlarged opening I52 in the wall 26 for a purpose to be described presently. The forwart; end of the strap I50 is offset downwardly, as a I54 to freely receive a pin I55 carried on one arm of a bell-crank lever I56. The lever I56 is firmly secured for free rotation on the projecting end of the selector drum shaft and its.

other arm has its end portion I5! bent substantially at right an les thereto to extend across the face of the selector drum. This overlying end portion I51 of the bell-crank lever I56 is provided with the designation Out and it is adapted, during operation of the selector, to be moved in front of the specimen of merchandise selected and carried in the selector drum when the selected rack is empty of such merchandise. I

The strap I50 is held normally in the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 6. Such position of the strap I50 is effected by a spring I58 (Figs. 7

and 12) connected at one end to the back partition wall and at its other end to an arm I59 of l a bell-crank I60 pivotally mounted at I6I on. the

trigger is pivotal- I53, and said end is provided with a notch aeeasoi.

inside: face-of said. plate- 2 6. The other. arm 1 2. oi said bell-crank is 'pivotally connected at its end; to". the. pin Mi l on said:strap ifil lhe purpose and functionof. the bell-crank the. will be ex plained. in detail presently. It is sufficient to note thatwhenv the strap it is inthe. full line. position illustrated, the. Out signal. Gill. isin. anel'evated positionand the triggers M"! are in.- clinedIforwardly by reason offmovement. of pin M5. (third' from right in Fig. 6) thereagainst.

The. location'of the. triggers Ml is such thattheir freecurved ends I lB lie. below the. path ofjthe-p'ins. I45. when the latter are in. anielevat ed or rackiull position. As a consequence, movement of an elevated'draw bar IM to. theleit.

asiiviewedi in Fig. 6, upon. selective. engagement ofi'the notch. H25 oiia link. 12.! (Fig. 7.). with its: related! roller 12.6, isinefiective. to. rock the trig: ger 4.1; As .a result. thestrapi, iii .is. not- Shifted'l out... off .its dotted. line. position. and. the- Utit. signallremains in its l'o'wered or.non=visi..- blej' position- Shifting. of the. strap. I50. from. the. dotted line. ppsitfonlilliustratedf into the fullfiline or. Out-i slgna'llingposition is. efiecti've. tolocl; the. plunger mechanism against operation. Suchlock.- ing of the mechanism is. attained. through rockingfof the hell-crank its hereinahcve re-- ferred to: Uponre'ferring, to- Figs 7 and 12, it will bei'observed that the bell-crank it'd. has arod l'63i'depen'ding'from the free end! of its arm. ltd. This rod extends through a guidebracket Md secured to the back wall of'the vending appara his and its lower end is formedsubstantiall-y u..-

shaped to provide a horiz'ontalportion. i521: and: an upwardly extending substantially vertical... portion I66... It. is preferred. that. the. verticalportiorr I66 also. extend throughaguide -6 to..

seems the element against di'splacemenh The. horizontal rod portion. I55. normally. is. held in the" elevated dottedeline position. illustrated in:

Fig: 12.. However, .when thestrap. liill-is'shifted'i forwardly.- to. actuate the ..Out. signal, said.

rod'f ism'oved. downwardly to. locatesaidhorizon-- talportion 165' in .the. full line. position shown. Asaconsequence, the. lower. extremity of: the.-

rod I63" is carried into and through: a .notch. or

recess I68 (Fig. 2) provided. onthe. edge of the horizontal flange of the angle bar I [8- -forminga part ofthe plunger assembly. Theplunger 23 is thereby held against. withdrawal;

As noted. hereinabove, operation. of. the. vendin'g" machine is controlled. by a coin-controlled mechanism includes means to prevent repeated,

operation of the plunger 23. upon the insertion. of b'ut asingle coin.

As shown in Fig. 13, one of the. slide elements, generally indicated at H3 ofthecoin-controlled mechanism carries a block [l4 which. is firmly secured thereto. as byrivets H5 extendingthrough a; slot H6 one wall of the coin-controlled mechanism. The. lower edge of thelhlock [14' is.

serrated. to provide. teeth Lil. adapted. to .cooperate with. an engaging. portion. i'lilof apawl. llawhen theslide element. H3 is-moved during. machine operation.v Tension springs. lfiii nor..- mally hold the pawl H9. with. its engagedportion ll8- disposed substantially upright. During. ma.- chine operation, as the. slide element i This moved. inwardly (to the right, as viewedin Fig. 13),.the. serrated edge. ill: willengage. the. engagingpontion I18 and rock. the pawl in-a clockwise. directionin. which position .the slide element. 113. can.- continuemoving to the right. Ifthismovementis interruptedwhile the engaging portion- I18 is. still in engagement. with. the. serrated edge-1.1.1,. the motion cannot bereversedtothe left; How.- ever, whenthe strokeot. the slide element. I13. hasbeen. completed,...which corresponds to. come. pletion of the.outwardmovementoilthe plunger. 2,3,. the. block. I15- has. been...carriedl beyond. the. pawl H9 and said. paw-llwill againassumeits' substantially. normal vertical. position. When. the. stroke. is.then.. reversed the pawl 1.1.9 wilLagaiiL be. effective. to preventanything but arompletedl return stroke for. theslide. elementf H3 and; the. plunger 23.

To facilitate. the. filling. of the. racks. 2.4, said. racks are swingable intoaforwardly inclinedposition'abouttheir pivots28- When-in such position their open upperv ends. are readily accessible. for the-insertionof merchandise. In. orderto insureagainsterror in placing a certainkindof'merrchandisein. a rack anda specimen. of a diiferent kind of merchandise in the. corresponding. posi.- tion on the selector drum'lt each rack will:b.ear: a number (not shown) corresponding to.a--num.--- ber associated with" a space in-the selectordrum. For: example, see the indeX numera l.-3. in Fig.3.

Obviously, merchandise fed into anempty rack" would fail. to. properly seat itself uponthe gate:

' tii-unless. the fingers 6! are: carried out of: the

Gut position. Suchwithdrawal of. the fingers: 61 is accomplished autcmatically'when. the rack. is; tilted. forward. into filling: position; Uponreie. erence to. Fig. 14 it will be observed that tilting A ofrt'h'e rack haslcarried the spring connection. on:

car 6 5- pastia line between the rack pivot 28' and the anchor pin 16'. As a result, the toggle spring 52 has acted to rock the fingers outwardly. When the rack is returned to its vertical position, the fingers are returned t'othe merchandise en-- gaging position shown in Fig. 10.

The fingers 6| are also moved out of contact with the merchandise when the vending mecha nism is actuated. This is accomplishedby'co engagement between a pin l8l. carried on': the: free end ofthe a1tm.63;and a finger I82 (Fig. 11') firmly mounted on. and projecting; upwardly" and. laterally from the. related. link. [2].. Such. co.- engagement is momentary but. is sufficient. to rock the fingers. 6!. into the outwardly inclined. position illustrated in. Fig. 11. Assoon as the. link lZl is returned to. its normal lowered posi. tion the fingers. 6! are returned, by actionof said spring 62, into merchandise-engaging position.

The construction and modev of operation. dc.- scribed hereinabove and specifically applied to such mechanism as is. related tobut a single mer-. chandise rack 24 obviously is repeated in the instance of each rack. 24, and such mechanism. is of course operatively associated with the various control devices. so as to actuate such controldevices irrespective of which of said. racks is. selected for the vending of. merchandise. Should any one of more of. the racks 24 be empty the vending of merchandise from the remaining racks is not interfered with.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed in detail in the accompanying drawing and specifically described hereinabove, it should be understood that the mechanism is capable of embodying a wide variety of modifications indetail, structure and function without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a vending machine adapted to vend merchandise from a selected one of a plurality of racks of merchandise upon manipulation of selection means and actuation of an operating element common to all of said racks, normally closed merchandise discharge means associated with each rack, said selection means including a slidable member, a plurality of bell-crank levers, and separate links one associated with each discharge means and with each bell-crank lever, said links being movable selectively into and out of engagement with the bell-crank levers upon sliding of said sliding member, and means to rock the bell-crank levers to actuate the re lated discharge means.

2. In a vending machine adapted to vend merchandise from a selected one of a plurality of racks of merchandise, normally closed discharge means associated with each rack, links one connected at one end to each discharge means, a plurality of bell-cranks one located in the region of the other end of each link, common operating means for said bell-cranks, and manually actuable selector means operable to move an one of said links into operating engagement with a related bell-crank whereby the selected discharge means is opened to discharge merchandise when the operating means is actuated.

3. In a vending machine adapted to vend merchandise from a selected one of a plurality of racks of merchandise, normally closed discharge means associated with each rack, links one connected at one end to each discharge means, a plurality of bell-cranks one located in the region of the other end of each link, common operating means for said bell-cranks, manually actuable selector means operable to move any one of said links into operating engagement with a related bell-crank whereby the selected discharge means is opened to discharge merchandise when the operating means is actuated, and means responsive to the absence of merchandise in the rack selected effective to prevent actuation of the operating means.

4. In a vending machine adapted to vend merchandise from a selected one of a plurality of racks of merchandise, normally closed discharge means associated with each rack, links one connected at one end to each discharge means, a plurality of bell-cranks one located in the region of the other end of each link, common operating means for said bell-cranks, manually actuable selector means operable to move any one of said links into operating engagement with a related bell-crank whereby the selected discharge means is opened to discharge merchandise when the operating means is actuated, and means responsive to manipulation of the selector means to visually indicate when a selected rack is empty of merchandise.

5. In a vending machine adapted to vend merchandise from a selected one of a plurality of racks of merchandise, normally closed discharge means associated with each rack, links one connected at one end to each discharge means, a plurality of bell-cranks one located in the region of the other end of each link, common operating means for said bell-cranks, manually actuable selector means operable to move any one of said links into operating engagement with a related bell-crank whereby the selected discharge means is opened to discharge merchandise when the operating means is actuated, and means responsive to manipulation of the selector means to visually indicate when a selected rack is empty of merchandise and to prevent actuation of the operating means.

6. In a vending machine adapted to vend selectively different kinds of merchandise upon actuation of coin-controlled mechanism, a plurality of merchandise racks, gates one normally closing the bottom of each rack, means to select the merchandise to be vended, means effective upon manual operation of the coin-controlled mechanism to move the gate of the rack containing the selected merchandise into vending position, a cam plate connected to the gate and movable means operable by the cam plate to prevent vending of more than one piece of merchandise While the gate is in a position for vending.

7. In a vending machine adapted to vend merchandise from a rack upon manipulation of a normally disconnected operating element, normally closed merchandise discharge means on said rack, a bell-crank lever, a link mechanically connected at one end to the discharge means and having its other end located in the region of the bell-crank lever, said link being movable into and out of engagement with the bell-crank lever, and means to rock the bell-crank lever to actuate the discharge means when the link is in engagement with the bell-crank lever.

8. In a vending machine adapted to vend merchandise from a rack upon manipulation of a normally disconnected operating element, normally closed merchandise discharge means on said rack, a bell-crank lever, a link mechanically connected at one end to the discharge means and having its other end located in the region of the bell-crank lever, said link being movable into and out of engagement with the bell-crank lever, means to rock the bell-crank lever to actuate the discharge means when the link is in engagement with the bell-crank lever, and means responsive to the absence of merchandise in the rack to prevent actuation of the bell-crank lever actuating means.

9. In a vending machine adapted to vend merchandise from a rack upon manipulation of a normally disconnected operating element, normally closed merchandise discharge means on said rack, a bell-crank lever, a link mechanically connected at one end to the discharge means and havin its other end located in the region of the bell-crank lever, said link bein movable into and out of engagement with the bell-crank lever, means to rock the bell-crank lever to actuate the discharge means when the link is in engagement with the bell-crank lever, and means responsive to movement of the link into engagement with the bell-crank lever to visually indicate when the rack is empty of merchandise.

10. In a vending machine adapted to vend merchandise from a selected one of a plurality of racks of merchandise, means individual to each rack operable to vend merchandise therefrom, common actuating means for all of said vending means, links one connected to each vending means, a selector effective to move and opera tively; connectra selected link with theactuatin means, a,.-disp1ay; element: operatively associated with the selector, said elementv carrying non-- vendable display specimens of he merchandise to be vended, slidahle means on each rack held in one positionwhile theracl: contains merchandise and in another'position when the rack is empty, links one'connected at one end to each slidable meanszand having their other ends connected one to each of said first named links, and a signal movable when a first'named linl; associated with an empty'rack is moved by said selector to prevent observation of a selected non'vendahle imen-ofmerchandise.

11;. Inavending adapted to vend merchandise fronira selected. one of a plurality of racks-of merchandise, means individual to each rack operable to ,.vend merchandise therefrom, common actuating means for all of said vending means, links. one; connected to each vending means, aselector efiective to. move and operatively connect a selected link with the actuating, means, slidablenieans on each rack held in one position while they rack contains merchandise and in another-position when the rack is empty, links one connected at one end to each slidable means and movable therewith, said links having their other endsconnected one to each of said first named links, and latch means operable to lock the actuating means against operation when one of the first. named links associated with an empty rack is moved by the selector.

12. In a selector mechanism for a vending chine, a rotatable shaft, a drum mounted on said shaft, said drum consisting of spaced apart end \vallsand circumferentially spaced bars extendingbetween said end; walls, and means on the end Walls and means on the iars adapted to cooperate to retain a specimen of merchandise in the space between adjacent cars.

13. In a vending machine adapted to vend merchandise from a rack upon manipulation. of a normally disconnected op ratin element, a rack, normally closed merchandise discharge means. on said'raclz, a movable member, a link mechanically connected at one end to the discharge means and having its other end positioned for engagement with the movable member,.said link being movable into and out of, en-

e s th he movable..- xnemben. m ans. to;

to prevent dispensing of said merchandise, means:

to rock said gate in one direction about a horizontal aXis to carry a merchandise supporting portion, of the gate out frornbeneath'the merchandise, a shelf on said gate onto which, the lowermost piece of merchandise drops, said gate rocking means being effective to then return the gate to its initial position to vend the mer.-: chandise on said shelf, and separate oscillat'qtb y rotatable means actuable when the gateis moved. in said one direction to prevent premature vending of the piece of merchandise on said Shelf;

ROYAL SMITH. HARRY B. STONER. EDWIN PARRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 606,249 Snapp June28, 1898 737,684 Warren Sept. 1, 1903 748,795 Scheble Jan. 5, 1904 1,099,265 Stern et a1 Nov. 21, 1911 1,788,523 Jennings et a1. Jan. 13,, 1931 1,889,318 Larson et a1. Nov. 29, 1932. 1,922,915 Hails Aug. 15, 1933 1,925,685 Antoine et al. Sept. 5, 1933 2,006,390 Gebert et a1 July 2,1935 2,098,697 Vanderput Nov. 9, 1937 2,189,641 Slezak Feb. 6,1940 2,283,252 Hartman et a1 May 19, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date.

15,878 Australia of 1934 769,858 France of 1934 

